Tunable Pyroelectricity around the Ferroelectric/Antiferroelectric Transition

The pyroelectric performance of Pb0.99Nb0.02[(Zr0.57Sn0.43)(0.92)Ti-0.08](0.98)O-3 ceramics was quantified by dielectric, polarization, and specific heat capacity measurements. The tunability of pyroelectric properties upon electric field application was studied as a function of temperature. The large pyroelectric coefficient of 0.28Cm(-2)K(-1) was associated with the ferroelectric (FE)-antiferroelectric (AFE) phase transition. The pyroelectric coefficient can be tuned over a broad temperature range of almost 40 K above the zero electric field phase transition. Electrical and thermal measurements were used to estimate various pyroelectric figures of merit. Pyroelectric figures of merit are almost three order of magnitude higher than those previously reported in FE materials. The large pyroelectric properties indicate that the investigated material is a promising candidate for many pyroelectric applications.